Cover for robotic vacuum

ABSTRACT

A cover is provided for a robotic floor cleaner to enclose the cleaner when the cleaner is docked in a charging station. The cover is shaped complimentarily to the shape of the robotic floor cleaner. The cover includes a flat, smooth, horizontal top and a circular sidewall with an open front mouth to through which the robotic floor cleaner moves into and out of the charging station. The cover may have a rear notch to accommodate structure on the charging station. The cover has sufficient strength to support a plant or decorative object on the top.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to Provisional Application U.S. Ser. No. 63/201,649, filed on May 7, 2021, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to robotic floor cleaners, and specially to a cover for the charging station for the cleaner, so as to hide the cleaner from view and provide a support surface for decorative objects.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Robotic vacuums have become popular in homes to automatically vacuum floors without effort by the homeowner or occupant. The robotic vacuum can clean carpets, hardwoods, tile, and other floor coverings. These robotic vacuums generally include a programmable cleaner supported on wheels, with an electric motor to drive the wheels. The cleaner automatically travels around the floor with spinning brushes to collect dirt and debris as the vacuum glides over the floor. Side brushes sweep dirt underneath the cleaner, while counter-rotating brushes rotate beneath the cleaner to guide the debris into a storage bin within the cleaner via vacuum suction. Robotic mops are also becoming more common for cleaning uncarpeted floor surfaces. These vacuum and mop cleaners include preprogrammed instructions and onboard sensors to control navigation. The floor and/or mop cleaners are powered by a rechargeable battery, and dock with a charging station to recharge the batteries. The docking station also stores the cleaner when not in use.

Since the battery of the vacuum or mop cleaner must be periodically recharged, the charging or docking station is normally positioned in a room adjacent a wall with an electrical outlet, rather than in a closet as with a conventional manual vacuum. The robotic vacuums and mops are not aesthetically pleasing to some people, and therefore their visible location in a room creates an unattractive or unsightly problem for homeowners and residents.

Accordingly, a primary objective of the present invention is a provision of a cover which provides an approved aesthetic appearance for a robotic vacuum and/or mop.

Another objective of the present invention is a provision of a cover which fits over the robotic cleaner when the cleaner is docked in the charging station.

A further objective of the present invention is a provision of a cover for a robotic vacuum or mop which can support a plant, a decorative or ornamental piece, and other objects.

A further objective of the present invention is the provision of a cover for a robotic vacuum or mop cleaner which does not interfere with the docking and undocking movement of the cleaner.

Yet another objective of the present invention is the provision of a cover which fits over the docking station of a robotic floor cleaner and has an open mouth for entry and exit of the cleaner to and from the docking station.

These and other objectives will become apparent from the following description of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a commercially available robotic floor cleaner with the cleaner docked in the charging station.

FIG. 2 is another perspective view showing the robotic floor cleaner shown in FIG. 1 with the cleaner separated from the charging station.

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the robotic floor cleaner cover according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view of the cover shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the cover of the present invention in use, positioned over the robotic cleaner with the cleaner docked in the charging station.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The robotic vacuum or mop cleaner is generally designated in the drawings by the reference numeral 10. The robotic cleaner 10 is programmed to dock and undock to and from a charging station 12, and to move about one or more rooms to clean the floors. The charging station 12 includes a low-profile base 14 and an upstanding body 16 for housing the electrical and electronic components of the docking station 12. The cleaner 10 and the base station 12 may take various forms, such as those commonly found in robotic floor cleaners. The cleaner 10 includes wheels, so as to be adapted to roll on to and off of the base 14 and automatically connect or couple to the electrical contacts 18 in the base 14. A power cord 20 extends from the housing 16 for plugging into a conventional household outlet so as to provide electrical power to the charging station 12. The robotic cleaner 10 and the charging station 12 components and assembly are conventional.

The present invention is directed towards a cover 30 which is sized to fit over the base 14 so as to cover the cleaner 10 when the cleaner is docked in the charging station 12. More particularly, the cover 30 includes a top 32 and a sidewall 34. The cover 30 has an open bottom so as to define an open cavity beneath the top 32 and within the sidewall 34. The cover 30 includes a rear opening or notch 36 in the sidewall 34 sized to receive a rear portion of the base 14. The notch 36 need not extend the full height of the sidewall 34, such that the sidewall extends across the upper edge of the opening 36. The cover 30 also includes a front opening or mouth 38 having a width sufficient for the vacuum or mop cleaner 10 to pass therethrough when docking or undocking to and from the charging station 12. The opening 38 may, in one embodiment, extend the full height of the sidewall 34, as shown in FIG. 3. Preferably, the cover 30 has a shape and contour which substantially matches the shape of the cleaner 10. The top 32 is preferably flat and horizontally disposed so as to support an object, such as a potted plant, decorative object, books, or magazines placed on the top 32 of the cover 30. The cover 10 is constructed of any material having sufficient rigidity or strength to support a desired object on top of the cover.

In one embodiment, the sidewall 34 has a relatively short height, approximate 4 inches, so that the top 32 is spaced closely above the cleaner 10. In an alternative embodiment, the sidewall 34 can have an extended height so that the top 32 is raised or elevated, and spaced above the cleaner 10, so as to function as a table, such as an end table, if the docking station 12 is positioned near a chair or couch. The height of the sidewall 34 does not change the height of the openings or notches 36, 38.

In the preferred embodiment, the cover 30 is generally circular in shape so as to substantially match and matingly cover the floor cleaner 10, such as a Roomba vacuum. The cover can alternatively have other shapes different from shape of the cleaner, yet sized to receive the cleaner 10. For the Roomba vacuum, the front opening 38 is approximately 16 inches in width and 4 inches in height, while the rear opening 36 is approximately 5 inches in width and 1 inch in height, and the top has a diameter of approximately 18 inches. A hole 40 may be provided in the top 32 so as to provide access to a center control button on the top of the Roomba vacuum. The hole 40 is large enough for a person to insert a finger.

The cover 30 improves the aesthetics and overall appearance of the cleaner 10 and docking station 12, by covering, enclosing and substantially hiding the floor cleaner 10, while also providing a support surface for various objects which may further enhance the room appearance. The top 32 and sidewall 34 may also include ornamentation of numerous types. In use, the cover essentially hides the cleaner 10 from visibility when the cleaner is parked in the docking station 12.

The invention has been shown and described above with the preferred embodiments, and it is understood that many modifications, substitutions, and additions may be made which are within the intended spirit and scope of the invention. From the foregoing, it can be seen that the present invention accomplishes at least all of its stated objectives. 

What is claimed:
 1. A cover for a robotic floor cleaner and charging station assembly, the charging station being positioned on a floor and the robotic floor cleaner being programmed to couple with the charging station for electrical charging of the robotic floor cleaner, the cover comprising: a body having a top surface, a side wall, and an open bottom; the body having a rear opening to receive the charging station and a front opening through which the floor cleaner enters for connection to the charging station and exits for moving across the floor.
 2. The cover of claim 1 wherein the top is circular.
 3. The cover of claim 1 wherein the sidewall extends across an upper edge of the rear opening.
 4. The cover of claim 1 wherein the front opening extends to a same height as the sidewall.
 5. The cover of claim 1 wherein the sidewall extends to a table height and the top surface forms a table top upon which objects can be set.
 6. The cover of claim 1 wherein the sidewall has sufficient strength to support an object placed on the top surface.
 7. The cover of claim 1 wherein the charging station has a base upon which the robotic floor cleaner sits, and the cover resides above the base so as to substantially hide the robotic floor cleaner when the robotic floor cleaner is positioned on the base of the charging station.
 8. The cover of claim 1 wherein the body has a shape corresponding to the shape of the robotic floor cleaner.
 9. The cover of claim 1 wherein the body is rigid.
 10. The cover of claim 1 wherein the front and rear openings each have a width, with the front opening width being greater than the rear opening width.
 11. The cover of claim 1 wherein the front and rear openings each have a height, and the front opening height being greater than the rear opening height.
 12. The cover of claim 1 wherein the body has dimensions which permit the robotic floor cleaner to be fully positioned inside the cover.
 13. The cover of claim 1 wherein the cover and the robotic floor cleaner each have a diameter, and the cover diameter is larger than the diameter of the robotic floor cleaner.
 14. The cover of claim 1 wherein the cover is closely spaced to the floor cleaner when the floor cleaner is docked in the charging station.
 15. A floor cleaner assembly, comprising: a robotic cleaner; a charging station for docking with the robotic cleaner for storage and electrical charging of the floor cleaner; a cover sized to fit over the robotic cleaner when the robotic cleaner is docked in the charging station; and the cover having an open front mouth through which the robotic cleaner moves to and from the charging station.
 16. The floor cleaning assembly of claim 15 wherein the cover has a sidewall extending around the floor cleaner and a top positioned above the floor cleaner when the floor cleaner is docked in the charging station.
 17. The floor cleaner assembly of claim 16 wherein the sidewall has a rear opening to fit over the charging station.
 18. The floor cleaner assembly of claim 15 wherein the cover has a shape complimentary to a shape of the floor cleaner.
 19. The floor cleaner assembly of claim 15 wherein the cover has a top positioned positioned in close proximity to an upper surface of the floor cleaner when the floor cleaner is docked in the charging station.
 20. The floor cleaner assembly of claim 15 wherein the cover has a smooth, horizontal top adapted to support on object thereon. 